Toby McGuinness

Toby McGuinness (3 April 1982-21 July 2006) was an honored US Marine Corps sniper who fought in the Iraq War. McGuinness was awarded the Silver Star twice and later the Navy Cross after his death in Operation Cedar Wood in Buhriz, Iraq.

Biography
Toby McGuinness was born on 3 April 1982 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family of Irish-Americans. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps while he was in college after the 9/11 attacks of 11 September 2001, and he was deployed to Iraq in 2003 after completing his training as a sniper. McGuinness reached the rank of Private First Class, and he was awarded the Silver Star in 2004 for bravery in fighting against Iraqi insurgents in Baghdad; in 2006 he won another Silver Star for his skills as a sniper. McGuinness' final mission was Operation Cedar Wood in July 2006, the battle for the town of Buhriz. The Marines came under heavy fire while they attempted to take over a bridge leading to the town, and McGuinness scored several kills with his sniper rifle. However, he was killed by insurgent fire while attempting to attack the bridge, and he was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery in the war.